Fulham Football Club – River Works Licence Application

The Port of London Authority (PLA) Board decided at a meeting on Tuesday, 25 March 2014, to grant a river works licence to Fulham Football Club for the redevelopment of its Riverside stand.

The river works licence application for the proposed stand, which incorporates a walkway over the river, adding a missing riverside link to the Thames Path National Trail, has been under consideration by the PLA for more than a year. During this time the PLA has consulted extensively with river users and other interested parties and received a range of expert advice; particular concerns were raised on the proposed stand’s impact on sailing.

PLA chief executive, Richard Everitt, said:

“The Thames is a hugely valued public space, shared by the whole community. As a result, this was not a simple decision to make. The Board balanced the stakeholder benefits, including improved access to the Thames, with the impact on sailing clubs and their members.

“The licence conditions we will be applying include improving conditions opposite the proposed stand for all river users, while helping to reduce the potential impact on sailing past the stand in certain wind conditions.”

The PLA is now preparing detailed river works licence conditions.

– ends –

Notes:

• Planning consent was granted for this development by the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham on 3 July 2013

• Fulham Football Club’s application for a PLA river works licence for the Riverside stand was submitted in October 2012.

• The conditions the PLA is looking to apply to the river works licence for the Riverside stand include:

Accelerated completion of the tree management and revetment (river bank) works between Beverley Brook and Barn Elms Wetland Centre, already planned after PLA and community consultation.

Improvements to the launching ramp used by South Bank Sailing Club.

The provision of additional race management support for both sailing clubs in the area.

The opening of the walkway through the Fulham development for public access, other than during a defined period on match days.

Managing the safety of navigation of all river users and maximising the use of the river during construction of the stand, in order to minimise the impact of the work on the local community.